Dear George: Yesterday I was at Camp David. I spent the afternoon talking to Art Nevins. He has some problems of which you should know.1
First of all, he has had no clear-cut instructions as to what you want him to do with respect to the old Brandon farm, particularly in spending money to keep the farm suitable for the beef raising project.2
For example, there are the matters of taxes and insurance.
Next, there is normal maintenance such as painting, fencing, road repair and minor repairs to buildings.
Because of the run-down conditions of that farm, these items will amount to a gross figure of a size higher than would be the normal case. Nevertheless, I told him that when I finally get into the position where I can personally participate in the farming venture, I believe that all of these items should be paid by the farming project, in lieu of rent. The rule should be, I think, that everything done to promote the usefulness of the farm as a stock raising facility should be charged to the operation.
The next problem seems to be a bit more serious. Last week he was visited by a man who is the Northeastern representative of the Aberdeen-Angus Association. This man is an expert on Aberdeen-Angus cattle--he is frequently called upon to judge stock shows.
He says that you have in your herd a number of animals that "will have to be culled out." He looked at the calf that the newspaper men bought for me through Billy Byars, the heifer that you and Billy gave me, and the heifer that the woman up in Hershey (or some place up there) gave me, and said that all these are top flight.3 Also he said that some of the others are really good. But he says that a few are not fit for a really good herd. I think you should not do anything about this at the moment. I believe you should not even say anything about it. But the next time you come in, we should have a serious talk about it.
Art told me also that he was worrying some about maintenance costs during these first two years when there is practically no income except for a little that will result from the sale of wheat and the few calves that will be sold as beef because of their unsuitability in a fine herd. These will be inconsequential sums, and Art says that the entire payroll is something now on the order of $800 to $1,000 a month.
He deserves to have a clear understanding so that he will not do anything of which you do not approve.
I do not know when you are due back from California. I think I shall just send this to your Washington office and ask them to get it to you as soon as possible. As ever
P.S. In the paragraph marked (1), please note that I merely told Arthur what I would recommend in future years. I did not presume to interpret or report your intentions.4
